NASCAR: 5 teams that could be added to the Daytona 500
By Asher Fair
Possible Daytona 500 additions: No. 2 – The Money Team Racing
Following several years of rumors, the Floyd Mayweather Jr.-owned The Money Team Racing finally made their NASCAR Cup Series debut in 2022, doing so with Kaz Grala behind the wheel of the No. 50 Chevrolet in the Daytona 500.
The team nearly failed to qualify for the race, but a heroic effort on the last lap of the second Duel race allowed Grala to make it into the 40-car field.
Grala finished the race in 26th place and drove the No. 50 Chevrolet in two more races later in the year. IndyCar driver Conor Daly also made his Cup Series debut behind the wheel of the car in the playoff race at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval.
Daly is reportedly set to return to the team in 2023, though it has not yet been confirmed where and how often he will compete. In total, the team plans field the No. 50 Chevrolet in at least six races throughout the year. Additional drivers and locations also have not yet been announced.
But is it safe to assume that the team will be back for a second Daytona 500 attempt?
Helio Castroneves had also been mentioned as a possibility for this car, should it end up on the Daytona 500 entry list.
After winning the 2022 SRX season opener at Five Flags Speedway in June, Castroneves revealed that he and SRX CEO Don Hawk had a bet that if he won an SRX race, Hawk would find him a NASCAR ride, presumably for the Daytona 500. However, he has ruled that out, indicating that perhaps Daly will get the nod.